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at least； upon a donkey who was so interested in the state of his
stomach that his head was always down there； investigating it； on
ponies； expressly born to kick up behind； on roundabouts and swings；
from fairs； in the first cabanother forgotten institution where
the fare regularly got into bed； and was tucked up with the driver。
Not to trouble you with a detailed account of all my travels in
pursuit of the ghost of Master B。； which were longer and more
wonderful than those of Sinbad the Sailor； I will confine myself to
one experience from which you may judge of many。
I was marvellously changed。 I was myself； yet not myself。 I was
conscious of something within me； which has been the same all
through my life； and which I have always recognised under all its
phases and varieties as never altering； and yet I was not the I who
had gone to bed in Master B。's room。 I had the smoothest of faces
and the shortest of legs； and I had taken another creature like
myself； also with the smoothest of faces and the shortest of legs；
behind a door； and was confiding to him a proposition of the most
astounding nature。
This proposition was； that we should have a Seraglio。
The other creature assented warmly。 He had no notion of
respectability； neither had I。 It was the custom of the East； it
was the way of the good Caliph Haroun Alraschid （let me have the
corrupted name again for once； it is so scented with sweet
memories！）； the usage was highly laudable； and most worthy of
imitation。 〃O； yes！ Let us；〃 said the other creature with a jump；
〃have a Seraglio。〃
It was not because we entertained the faintest doubts of the
meritorious character of the Oriental establishment we proposed to
import； that we perceived it must be kept a secret from Miss
Griffin。 It was because we knew Miss Griffin to be bereft of human
sympathies； and incapable of appreciating the greatness of the great
Haroun。 Mystery impenetrably shrouded from Miss Griffin then； let
us entrust it to Miss Bule。
We were ten in Miss Griffin's establishment by Hampstead Ponds；
eight ladies and two gentlemen。 Miss Bule； whom I judge to have
attained the ripe age of eight or nine； took the lead in society。 I
opened the subject to her in the course of the day； and proposed
that she should become the Favourite。
Miss Bule； after struggling with the diffidence so natural to； and
charming in； her adorable sex； expressed herself as flattered by the
idea； but wished to know how it was proposed to provide for Miss
Pipson？ Miss Bulewho was understood to have vowed towards that
young lady； a friendship； halves； and no secrets； until death； on
the Church Service and Lessons complete in two volumes with case and
lockMiss Bule said she could not； as the friend of Pipson；
disguise from herself； or me； that Pipson was not one of the common。
Now； Miss Pipson； having curly hair and blue eyes （which was my idea
of anything mortal and feminine that was called Fair）； I promptly
replied that I regarded Miss Pipson in the light of a Fair
Circassian。
〃And what then？〃 Miss Bule pensively asked。
I replied that she must be inveigled by a Merchant； brought to me
veiled； and purchased as a slave。
＇The other creature had already fallen into the second male place in
the State； and was set apart for Grand Vizier。 He afterwards
resisted this disposal of events； but had his hair pulled until he
yielded。＇
〃Shall I not be jealous？〃 Miss Bule inquired； casting down her eyes。
〃Zobeide； no；〃 I replied； 〃you will ever be the favourite Sultana；
the first place in my heart； and on my throne； will be ever yours。〃
Miss Bule； upon that assurance； consented to propound the idea to
her seven beautiful companions。 It occurring to me； in the course
of the same day； that we knew we could trust a grinning and good…
natured soul called Tabby； who was the serving drudge of the house；
and had no more figure than one of the beds； and upon whose face
there was always more or less black…lead； I slipped into Miss Bule's
hand after supper； a little note to that effect； dwelling on the
black…lead as being in a manner deposited by the finger of
Providence； pointing Tabby out for Mesrour； the celebrated chief of
the Blacks of the Hareem。
There were difficulties in the formation of the desired institution；
as there are in all combinations。 The other creature showed himself
of a low character； and； when defeated in aspiring to the throne；
pretended to have conscientious scruples about prostrating himself
before the Caliph； wouldn't call him Commander of the Faithful；
spoke of him slightingly and inconsistently as a mere 〃chap；〃 said
he； the other creature； 〃wouldn't play〃Play！and was otherwise
coarse and offensive。 This meanness of disposition was； however；
put down by the general indignation of an united Seraglio； and I
became blessed in the smiles of eight of the fairest of the
daughters of men。
The smiles could only be bestowed when Miss Griffin was looking
another way； and only then in a very wary manner； for there was a
legend among the followers of the Prophet that she saw with a little
round ornament in the middle of the pattern on the back of her
shawl。 But every day after dinner； for an hour； we were all
together； and then the Favourite and the rest of the Royal Hareem
competed who should most beguile the leisure of the Serene Haroun
reposing from the cares of Statewhich were generally； as in most
affairs of State； of an arithmetical character； the Commander of the
Faithful being a fearful boggler at a sum。
On these occasions； the devoted Mesrour； chief of the Blacks of the
Hareem； was always in attendance （Miss Griffin usually ringing for
that officer； at the same time； with great vehemence）； but never
acquitted himself in a manner worthy of his historical reputation。
In the first place； his bringing a broom into the Divan of the
Caliph； even when Haroun wore on his shoulders the red robe of anger
（Miss Pipson's pelisse）； though it might be got over for the moment；
was never to be quite satisfactorily accounted for。 In the second
place； his breaking out into grinning exclamations of 〃Lork you
pretties！〃 was neither Eastern nor respectful。 In the third place；
when specially instructed to say 〃Bismillah！〃 he always said
〃Hallelujah！〃 This officer； unlike his class； was too good…humoured
altogether； kept his mouth open far too wide； expressed approbation
to an incongruous extent； and even onceit was on the occasion of
the purchase of the Fair Circassian for five hundred thousand purses
of gold； and cheap； tooembraced the Slave； the Favourite； and the
Caliph； all round。 （Parenthetically let me say God bless Mesrour；
and may there have been sons and daughters on that tender bosom；
softening many a hard day since！）
Miss Griffin was a model of propriety； and I am at a loss to imagine
what the feelings of the virtuous woman would have bee